Systems and methods for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system

ABSTRACT

A disclosed computer-implemented method may include determining that a user of a social networking system is (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature. The method may further include receiving a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature, and providing, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/665,478, filed May 1, 2018, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/720,493, filed Aug. 21, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/757,128, filed Nov. 7, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by this reference.

BACKGROUND

Modern social networking systems have revolutionized how people connect to and communicate with each other. For example, users of social networking systems may share information (e.g., posts, news stories, media, etc.) with other users, join groups that include other users who share common interests, and so forth. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for users of a social networking system to initiate new relationships with other users of the social networking system.

For example, a user may wish to find a new romantic partner, and therefore may wish to identify other users of the social networking system who may be open to forming a new romantic relationship and with whom the user may be compatible (e.g., socially compatible, romantically compatible, sexually compatible, etc.). While some conventional social networking systems may allow users to form and/or participate in communities of users who share common interests, it may be difficult for a user who is a member of such a user community to identify other members of the community who may be open to forming new relationships and/or who may be otherwise compatible with the user.

Hence, the instant disclosure identifies and addresses a need for new systems and methods for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system.

SUMMARY

As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure describes various systems and methods for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system. In one example, a computer-implemented method may include determining that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community. The method may further include receiving a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. The method may also include providing, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system.

In some examples, the interest-based community may include at least one of (1) a set of users of the social networking system who have each indicated an interest in an event, or (2) a set of users of the social networking system who have each indicated an interest in a subject.

In at least one example, the method may further include presenting, within the dating interface, a representation of the interest-based community that includes an interface affordance that indicates at least one of (1) whether the community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community, or (2) whether the user has been provided with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, receiving the request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community may include receiving the request via a user interaction with the interface affordance.

In some embodiments, the method may further include providing an administrator of the interest-based community with a dating feature control that may enable the administrator to provide an instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community, and receiving, via the dating feature control, the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In at least one embodiment, the method may further include activating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community in response to receiving the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community.

In some examples, the method may further include providing the administrator with a duration control that may enable the administrator to provide a duration of time for the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community to remain activated. In at least one example, the method may also include receiving the duration of time via the duration control and, upon expiration of the duration of time, inactivating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In some embodiments, the method may further include inactivating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community upon expiration of a predetermined duration of time following an activation of the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In at least one embodiment, the method may further include receiving a request from the additional member for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community, and providing, in response to receiving the request from the additional member for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community, the additional member with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In additional embodiments, identifying the additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service may be based on providing the additional member with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In some examples, identifying the additional member of the interest-based community may include (1) obtaining, from the user, data representative of at least one desired user attribute for new user connections, and (2) determining that the additional member of the interest-based community shares the desired user attribute. In at least one example, identifying the additional member of the interest-based community may further include determining that the user and the additional member of the interest-based community have at least a threshold level of compatibility within the dating service.

In some embodiments, the method may further include (1) receiving a selection of the additional member of the interest-based community from the user, and (2) presenting at least one set of information associated with the dating service and the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community. In at least one embodiment, the set of information may include a dating profile of the additional member of the interest-based community.

In some examples, the dating profile may include a set of conversation starter elements. In additional examples, the method may further include presenting, within the dating interface, a conversation interface that may enable the user to start a conversation with the additional member of the interest-based community regarding at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements. In some examples, the method may further include receiving, via the conversation interface, (1) a selection of at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements, and (2) conversation starter message from the user to the additional member of the interest-based community regarding the conversation starter element. In at least one additional example, the method may further include sending the conversation starter message to the additional member of the interest-based community. In some examples, receiving the conversation starter message from the user may include (1) receiving, via the conversation interface, at least one textual element for inclusion in the conversation starter message, and (2) preventing inclusion of at least one restricted audiovisual element in the conversation starter message.

In some embodiments, the method may further include determining whether the additional member of the interest-based community has sent a response to the conversation starter message to the user. In at least one embodiment, the method may further include, upon determining that the additional member of the interest-based community has sent the response to the user, providing the response to the user within the dating interface. In some examples, the method may further include, upon determining that the additional member of the interest-based community has not sent the response, preventing the user from sending an additional message to the additional member of the interest-based community.

In addition, a corresponding system for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system may include several modules stored in memory, including a determining module that determines that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community. The system may further include a receiving module that receives a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. The system may also include a providing module that provides, in response to the receiving module receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, the providing module may provide the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system. The system may further include at least one physical processor that executes the determining module, the receiving module, and the providing module.

In some embodiments, the system may further include an activation management module, stored in memory, that provides an administrator of the interest-based community with a dating feature control that may enable the administrator to provide an instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, the activation management module may further receive, via the dating feature control, the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In at least one example, the activation management module may also, in response to receiving the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community, activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some embodiments, the physical processor may further execute the activation management module.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the activation management module may further provide the administrator with a duration control that may enable the administrator to provide a duration of time for the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community to remain activated. In some embodiments, the activation management module may also receive the duration of time via the duration control, and may further, upon expiration of the duration of time, inactivate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In some embodiments, the receiving module may further receive a selection of the additional member of the interest-based community from the user. In at least one embodiment, the providing module may further provide the user with access to the community-based dating feature by presenting a dating profile of the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to the receiving module receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community.

In some examples, the dating profile may include a set of conversation starter elements. In some examples, the providing module may further provide the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by presenting, within the dating interface, a conversation interface that may enable the user to start a conversation with the additional member of the interest-based community regarding at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements. In some embodiments, the receiving module may further receive, via the conversation interface (1) a selection of at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements, and (2) a conversation starter message from the user to the additional member of the interest-based community regarding the conversation starter element. In at least one embodiment, the receiving module may also send the conversation starter message to the additional member of the interest-based community.

In some examples, the above-described method may be encoded as computer-readable instructions on a computer-readable medium. For example, a computer-readable medium may include one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, may cause the computing device to determine that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community.

In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium may include one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, may cause the computing device to receive a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In at least one embodiment, the computer-readable medium may include one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, may cause the computing device to provide, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system.

Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of example embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of a system for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an example method for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system.

FIG. 4 includes an example interface view that illustrates providing a dating interface of a social networking system that includes various representations of interest-based communities of the social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 5A-5B and FIG. 6 include interface views that illustrate various examples of providing entry points from a social networking interface into a dating interface of a dating service of the social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 includes an interface view that illustrates an example of presenting a home screen of a dating service of a social networking system within a dating interface of the social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 8A-8C include interface views that illustrate examples of presenting, within a dating interface of a social networking system, dating information associated with a participant in a dating service of a social networking system who is also a member of an interest-based community in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 9-10 include interface views that illustrate examples of presenting, within a dating interface, a conversation interface that may enable a user to start a conversation with an additional member of the interest-based community in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 includes an interface view that illustrates providing, within a dating interface of a social networking system, a set of participants in the dating service who have indicated an interest in a participant in the dating service in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 12A-12C include interface views that illustrate a messaging interface of a dating service of a social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system. As will be explained in greater detail below, embodiments of the instant disclosure may determine that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community. Embodiments may also receive a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature and may provide, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, providing the user with access to the community-based dating feature may include identifying an additional member of the interest-based community who is also a participant in the dating service. An embodiment may then present dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system.

The systems and methods described herein may enable a user of a social networking system to unlock dating features associated with various interest-based communities (e.g., groups, events, etc.) of which they are already members. Such a dating feature may facilitate dating connections between members of interest-based communities of a social networking system (e.g., groups, events, pages, etc.). As members of these interest-based communities may already share at least one common interest (e.g., an interest in a subject associated with the interest-based community), facilitating dating connections between such users may enable the users to make stronger, longer-lasting, and/or more fulfilling dating connections than may be possible through conventional dating services.

To illustrate, if a user is a member of an “I Love Corgis” group and wishes to see if there are members within that group who may be interested in making dating connections with other members of the group, then one or more embodiments of this disclosure may enable the user to opt-in to a dating feature associated with the group. This may enable the user to view dating profiles of other members of the group that have also opted in to participate in the dating feature associated with the group.

Similarly, if a user recently attended a friend's birthday party and met someone that they were interested in making a dating connection with, one or more embodiments of the instant disclosure may enable the user to opt-in to a dating feature associated with an interest-based community associated with the event. This may enable the user to see if the person of interest has also opted in to the dating feature of the interest-based community, which may indicate that the person of interest is also interested in making dating connections with other users who attended the friend's birthday party.

In some embodiments, one or more of modules 102 may provide group administrators with tools to enable, disable, lock, or unlock dating features or services for their group. For example, an event planner for a funeral may disable, via an administrator interface, a group-based dating feature for an event associated with the funeral (e.g., an interest-based community organized around the event of the funeral), while a wedding planner may enable, via an administrator interface, a group-based dating service for an event associated with the wedding. In some examples, embodiments may filter dating profiles based on a variety of criteria, such as sexual orientation, religion, likelihood of a good match with the user, and so forth. In additional or alternative examples, access to a dating feature of an interest-based community may be time-limited (e.g., limited to one week following an event).

Additionally, one or more embodiments of the instant disclosure may enable and/or disable one or more features associated with an interest-based community and/or a community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community in order to facilitate user privacy and/or security when a user participates in the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community. For example, an embodiment may enable, limit, and/or disable a messaging service associated with an interest-based community and/or a community-based dating feature associated with the group based on one or more criteria. Thus, a messaging service associated with a group and/or a dating feature of an interest-based community may be tailored and/or limited to enhance user safety and/or privacy (e.g., messaging between two or more group members may be limited to text only until certain criteria are met to avoid offensive images, spam solicitations, etc.).

Furthermore, embodiments of the instant disclosure may provide for a more efficient usage of telecommunications resources (e.g., telecommunications infrastructure, bandwidth, etc.) than traditional dating services. For example, the systems and methods described herein may enable a participant in a dating service of a social networking system to easily identify other participants in the dating service who share common interests with the user. Hence, the participant may discover potential dating connections by accessing dating information associated with such identified participants instead of randomly browsing profile information associated with a potentially larger, less targeted set of participants. This may conserve bandwidth resources of the participant, the social networking system, and/or a telecommunications infrastructure that connects the user to the social networking system.

The following will provide, with reference to FIGS. 1-2 and 4-11, detailed descriptions of systems that may provide a community-based dating service for a social networking system. Detailed descriptions of corresponding computer-implemented methods will also be provided in connection with FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100 for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system. As illustrated in this figure, example system 100 may include one or more modules 102 for performing one or more tasks. As will be explained in greater detail below, modules 102 may include a determining module 104 that may determine that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community. Example system 100 may further include a receiving module 106 that receives a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

As further shown in FIG. 1, example system 100 may also include a providing module 108 that may provide, in response to the receiving module receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. As will be described in greater detail below, in some examples, providing module 108 may provide a user with access to a community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system.

In some additional and/or alternative embodiments, example system 100 may further include an activation management module 110 that may provide an administrator of the interest-based community with a dating feature control that may enable the administrator to provide an instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, activation management module 110 may also receive, via the dating feature control, the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In at least one example, activation management module 110 may also activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community in response to receiving the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, example system 100 may also include one or more memory devices, such as memory 120. Memory 120 generally represents any type or form of volatile or non-volatile storage device or medium capable of storing data and/or computer-readable instructions. In one example, memory 120 may store, load, and/or maintain one or more of modules 102. Examples of memory 120 include, without limitation, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid-State Drives (SSDs), optical disk drives, caches, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable storage memory.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, example system 100 may also include one or more physical processors, such as physical processor 130. Physical processor 130 generally represents any type or form of hardware-implemented processing unit capable of interpreting and/or executing computer-readable instructions. In one example, physical processor 130 may access and/or modify one or more of modules 102 stored in memory 120. Additionally or alternatively, physical processor 130 may execute one or more of modules 102 to facilitate providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system. Examples of physical processor 130 include, without limitation, microprocessors, microcontrollers, central processing units (CPUs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that implement softcore processors, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), portions of one or more of the same, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable physical processor.

As also illustrated in FIG. 1, example system 100 may also include one or more stores of data, such as data store 140. In at least one example, data store 140 may include participant data 142 that may include information associated with users who are participating in a dating service of the social networking system. Furthermore, in some examples, participant data 142 may also include, without limitation, data associated with one or more attributes of a participant in a dating service of the social networking system and/or data associated with a compatibility level (e.g., an interpersonal compatibility level, a dating compatibility level, etc.) of at least two participants in the dating service. Data store 140 may represent portions of a single data store or computing device or a plurality of data stores or computing devices. In some embodiments, data store 140 may be a logical container for data and may be implemented in various forms (e.g., a database, a file, file system, a data structure, etc.). Examples of data store 140 may include, without limitation, one or more files, file systems, data stores, databases, and/or database management systems such as an operational data store (ODS), a relational database, a NoSQL database, a NewSQL database, and/or any other suitable organized collection of data.

Example system 100 in FIG. 1 may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, all or a portion of example system 100 may represent portions of an example system 200 (“system 200”) in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, system 200 may include user device 202 in communication with a social networking server 206 (“server 206”) and an administrator device 208 via network 204. In at least one example, server 206 may be programmed with one or more of modules 102. Additionally or alternatively, user device 202 and/or administrator device 208 may be programmed with one or more of modules 102.

In at least one embodiment, one or more modules 102 from FIG. 1 may, when executed by user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208, enable user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to perform one or more operations to provide a community-based dating service for a social networking system. For example, as will be described in greater detail below, determining module 104 may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to determine that a user (e.g., user 210) of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system (e.g., dating service 212), and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system (e.g., interest-based community 214) that includes an activated community-based dating feature (e.g., community-based dating feature 216) that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community.

Furthermore, receiving module 106 cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive a request (e.g., request 218) from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. Additionally, providing module 108 may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide, in response to receiving module 106 receiving the request (e.g., request 218), the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, providing module 108 may provide the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by: (1) identifying at least one additional member (e.g., additional member 220) of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community (e.g., additional member information 224, also referred to in FIG. 2 as “add'l member information 224,” that may be included in participant data 142 as part of dating information 222) within a dating interface of the social networking system (e.g., dating interface 226).

In at least one embodiment, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., providing module 108) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to present, within the dating interface (e.g., dating interface 226), a representation of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community representation 228, also referred to herein as “IBC representation 228”) that may include an interface affordance (e.g., affordance 230) that may indicate at least one of (1) whether the community-based dating feature (e.g., community-based dating feature 216) is activated for the interest-based community, and (2) whether the user has been provided with access to. In some embodiments, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., receiving module 106) may also receive the request (e.g., request 218) from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by receiving the request via a user interaction with the interface affordance (e.g., affordance 230).

In some additional or alternative embodiments, activation management module 110 may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide an administrator of the interest-based community (e.g., administrator 232) with a dating feature control (e.g., dating feature control 236 included as part of administrator interface 234) that may enable the administrator to provide an instruction (e.g., activation instruction 238) to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. In some examples, activation management module 110 may additionally or alternatively cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive, via the dating feature control (e.g., dating feature control 236), the instruction (e.g., activation instruction 238) to activate the community-based dating feature (e.g., community-based dating feature 216) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214). In at least one example, activation management module may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to activate the community-based dating feature (e.g., community-based dating feature 216) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) in response to receiving the instruction (e.g., activation instruction 238) to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community.

In some embodiments, activation management module 110 may also cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide the administrator (e.g., administrator 232) with a duration control (e.g., duration control 240 within administrator interface 234) that may enable the administrator to provide a duration of time (e.g., duration 242) for the community-based dating feature (e.g., community-based dating feature 216) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) to remain activated. In some examples, activation management module 110 may also cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive the duration of time (e.g., duration 242) via the duration control (e.g., duration control 240), and, upon expiration of the duration of time, inactivate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In some examples, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., providing module 108) may also cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to obtain, from the user (e.g., user 210), data representative of at least one desired user attribute (e.g., desired user attribute 246) for new user connections. In some examples, providing module 108 may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to identify the additional member (e.g., additional member 220) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) by determining that the additional member of the interest-based community shares the desired user attribute (e.g., by accessing user attribute data 244 that may be included in participant data 142).

In at least one embodiment, providing module 108 may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to identify the additional member (e.g., additional member 220) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) by further determining that the user (e.g., user 210) and the additional member (e.g., additional member 220) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) have at least a threshold level of compatibility (e.g., compatibility level 248 that may be included as part of participant data 142) within the dating service.

In at least one example, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., receiving module 106, providing module 108, etc.) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive a selection (e.g., selection 250) of the additional member (e.g., additional member 220) of the interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) from the user (e.g., user 210). In additional examples, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., providing module 108) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to present at least one set of information associated with the dating service and the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community.

User device 202 generally represents any type or form of computing device capable of reading and/or executing computer-executable instructions. In at least one embodiment, user device 202 may accept one or more directions from server 206 and/or administrator device 208. Examples of user device 202 include, without limitation, servers, desktops, laptops, tablets, cellular phones, (e.g., smartphones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), multimedia players, embedded systems, wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, smart glasses, etc.), gaming consoles, combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable mobile computing device.

Network 204 generally represents any medium or architecture capable of facilitating communication and/or data transfer between user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208. Examples of network 204 include, without limitation, an intranet, a WAN, a LAN, a Personal Area Network (PAN), the Internet, Power Line Communications (PLC), a cellular network (e.g., a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code-division multiple access (CDMA) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, etc.), universal serial bus (USB) connections, and the like. Network 204 may facilitate communication or data transfer using wireless or wired connections. In one embodiment, network 204 may facilitate communication between user device 202, server 206, and administrator device 208.

Server 206 generally represents any type or form of computing device capable of reading and/or executing computer-executable instructions and/or hosting executables. Examples of server 206 include, without limitation, application servers, storage servers, database servers, web servers, and/or any other suitable computing device configured to run certain software applications and/or provide various application, storage, and/or database services.

Like user device 202, administrator device 208 generally represents any type or form of computing device capable of reading and/or executing computer-executable instructions. In at least one embodiment, administrator device 208 may accept one or more directions from user device 202 and/or server 206. Examples of administrator device 208 include, without limitation, servers, laptops, tablets, cellular phones, (e.g., smartphones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), multimedia players, embedded systems, wearable devices (e.g., smart watches, smart glasses, etc.), gaming consoles, combinations of one or more of the same, or any other suitable mobile computing device. In at least one example, administrator device 208 may present an administrator (e.g., administrator 232) of an interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214) with one or more controls to administer the interest-based community. For example, in at least one embodiment, administrator device 208 may, when directed by one or more of modules 102 (e.g., activation management module 110) present an administrator interface (e.g., administrator interface 234) to an administrator (e.g., administrator 232) of an interest-based community (e.g., interest-based community 214). In some examples, the administrator interface may include a dating feature control (e.g., dating feature control 236) and/or a duration control (e.g., duration control 240).

In at least one example, user device 202, server 206, and administrator device 208 may be computing devices programmed with one or more of modules 102. All or a portion of the functionality of modules 102 may be performed by user device 202, server 206, administrator device 208, and/or any other suitable computing system. As will be described in greater detail below, one or more of modules 102 from FIG. 1 may, when executed by at least one processor of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208, may enable user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide a community-based dating service for a social networking system.

Many other devices or subsystems may be connected to system 100 in FIG. 1 and/or system 200 in FIG. 2. Conversely, all of the components and devices illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 need not be present to practice the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein. The devices and subsystems referenced above may also be interconnected in different ways from those shown in FIG. 2. Systems 100 and 200 may also employ any number of software, firmware, and/or hardware configurations. For example, one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein may be encoded as a computer program (also referred to as computer software, software applications, computer-readable instructions, and/or computer control logic) on a computer-readable medium.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an example computer-implemented method 300 for providing a community-based dating service for a social networking system. The steps shown in FIG. 3 may be performed by any suitable computer-executable code and/or computing system, including system 100 in FIG. 1, system 200 in FIG. 2, and/or variations or combinations of one or more of the same. In one example, each of the steps shown in FIG. 3 may represent an algorithm whose structure includes and/or is represented by multiple sub-steps, examples of which will be provided in greater detail below.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, at step 310, one or more of the systems described herein may determine that a user of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community. For example, determining module 104 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to determine that user 210 of a social networking system is both (1) a participant in a dating service of the social networking system, and (2) a member of interest-based community 214 that includes activated community-based dating feature 216.

In some examples, a “dating service” or “dating service within a social networking system” may be any service of a social networking system that manages dating connections and/or shares, compiles, formats, and/or broadcasts information based on dating connections. In some examples, a “dating connection” and “a connection within a dating service” may be any social connection between at least two participants of a dating service of a social networking system that represents an interest by at least one of the participants in engaging in dating practices with the other participant or participants.

In some examples, an “interest-based community” and/or an “interest-based community of a social networking system” may include a gathering of people assembled around a subject of common interest. Examples of subjects of common interest may include, without limitation, persons, events, places, physical objects, virtual objects, concepts, themes, problems, propositions, expressions, fields, businesses, organizations, issues, works, and so forth. In some examples, a social networking system may provide one or more features that may facilitate users of the social networking system forming, maintaining, managing, administering, joining, and/or engaging with interest-based communities. For example, a social networking system may provide a “groups” feature that may enable one or more users to establish, join, interact with, and/or administer an interest-based community surrounding a particular subject. Additionally or alternatively, a social networking system may provide an “events” feature that may enable one or more users to establish, join, interact with, and/or administer an interest-based community surrounding a particular event, such as a concert, a social gathering, a meeting, and so forth. Furthermore, a social networking system may provide a “pages” feature that may enable one or more users to follow other users.

In some examples, a “community-based dating feature,” a “community-based dating feature of a social networking system,” and/or a “community-based dating feature associated with an interest-based community” may include a feature of a social networking system that facilitates (e.g., establishes, promotes, furthers, expedites, provides tools for, etc.) formation, maintenance, and/or dissolution of dating connections between members of interest-based communities. For example, a community-based dating feature may identify members of an interest-based community who are participants in a dating service of a social networking system to other members of the interest-based community who are also participants in the dating service of the social networking system. This may enable users who share common interests (e.g., users who are both members of an interest-based community) to form dating connections with each other. By facilitating dating connections between users who already share common interests, a community-based dating feature of a social networking system may enable users to form strong, enjoyable, and valuable dating connections with other users of the social networking system more efficiently than via conventional electronic dating systems.

Determining module 104 may determine that user 210 is both (1) a participant in a dating service of a social networking system, and (2) a member of interest-based community 214 that includes activated community-based dating feature 216 in a variety of contexts. For example, as described above, participant data 142 as maintained by data store 140 may include information associated with participants in a dating service of a social networking system. Hence, participant data may include one or more indicators (e.g., a data field, a database record, a file, portions of one or more of the same, etc.) that may indicate that user 210 is a participant in a dating service of the social networking system and/or that user 210 is a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system. Determining module 104 may therefore determine that user 210 is both (1) a participant in a dating service of a social networking system, and (2) a member of interest-based community 214 that includes activated community-based dating feature 216 by accessing participant data 142 and/or by analyzing participant data 142 to identify one or more such indicators that may be included in participant data 142.

Returning to FIG. 3, at step 320, one or more of the systems described herein may receive a request from a user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. For example, receiving module 106 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive request 218 for access to community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214.

In some examples, a “request” may include any information that indicates that a user (e.g., user 210) of a social networking system desires to participate in a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community that may facilitate dating connections between members of the interest-based community. For example, a request (e.g., request 218) may include an instruction for one or more of the systems described herein to provide user 210 with access to community-based dating feature of an interest-based community. In some examples, a request (e.g., request 218) may further include, without limitation, a message from the user to other members of the interest-based community who are participating in the community-based dating feature, a set attributes of the user, at least one desired user attribute for new user connections, and so forth.

Receiving module 106 may receive request 218 from user 210 in a variety of contexts. For example, user 210 may submit a request to participate in the discovery service via a dating interface of a social networking system (dating interface 226). Receiving module 106 may then receive request 218 from the dating interface via any suitable communications medium (e.g., network 204).

In some examples, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may present, within a dating interface, a representation of the interest-based community that may include an interface affordance that indicates at least one of (1) whether the community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community, and (2) whether the user has been provided with access to dating information associated with members of the interest-based community who are also participants in the dating service. In at least one example, receiving module 106 may receive the request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by receiving the request via a user interaction with the interface affordance.

In some examples, an “interface affordance” may include any interface element that indicates at least one of (1) whether a community-based dating feature is activated for an interest-based community, and (2) whether the user has been provided with access to dating information associated with members of the interest-based community who are also participants in the dating service. For example, as a user of a social networking system (e.g., user 210) who is a participant in a dating service of a social networking system interacts with a dating interface of the social networking system (e.g., dating interface 226), the interface may present an interface affordance that may be associated with (e.g., included in) a representation of an interest-based community (e.g., IBC representation 228). In some examples, the interest-based community may be an interest-based community that the user is a member of (e.g., interest-based community 214). In such examples, the interface affordance may indicate (1) whether a community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community, and/or (2) whether the user has been provided with access to a community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.

In at least one example, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., providing module 108) may indicate one or more relationships between a user and a community-based dating feature via the interface affordance. For example, when community-based dating feature 216 is not active for interest-based community 214, providing module 108 may present affordance 230 within dating interface 226 as a first image (e.g., an icon indicating that the community-based dating feature is not active, a blank space at a specific position within IBC representation 228, etc.). If community-based dating feature 216 is active, but user 210 has not been provided with access to community-based dating feature 216, providing module 108 may present affordance 230 within dating interface 226 as a second image (e.g., an image of a locked padlock). If community-based dating feature 216 is active for interest-based community 214 and user 210 has been provided with access to community-based dating feature 216, providing module 108 may present affordance 230 within dating interface 226 as a third image (e.g., an image of an unlocked padlock).

By way of illustration, FIG. 4 includes an example interface view 400 that illustrates a dating interface of a social networking system that includes various representations of interest-based communities of the social networking system. For example, FIG. 4 includes a representation 402 of an interest-based community associated with an event (e.g., a concert by a performer “DJ Bravo”). This may indicate that a user who may be accessing a dating service of the social networking system via the illustrated dating interface may be a member of the interest-based community represented by representation 402. As shown, representation 402 includes an interface affordance 404 that includes an image of a locked padlock. Hence, interface affordance 404 may indicate that a community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community represented by representation 402, and that the user has not been provided with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community represented by representation 402.

FIG. 4 also includes a representation 406 of an internet-based community associated with a subject (e.g., “JSC Alumni Class of 2018”). This may indicate that the user who may be accessing the dating service via the illustrated dating interface may be a member of the interest-based community represented by representation 406. As shown, representation 406 includes an interface affordance 408 that includes an image of an unlocked padlock. Hence, interface affordance 408 may indicate that a community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community represented by representation 406, and that the user has been provided with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community represented by representation 402.

In some examples, receiving module 106 may receive a request (e.g., request 218) from the user for access to a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community by receiving the request via a user interaction with an interface affordance included in a representation of the interest-based community. For example, continuing with the example illustrated in FIG. 4, a user may interact with (e.g., tap on, click on, select, etc.) interface affordance 404. The interaction may cause receiving module 106 to receive request 218 (e.g., information representative of a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community represented by representation 406.) Hence, a user may “unlock” a community-based dating feature of the interest-based community represented by representation 406 by interacting with (e.g., tapping on, clicking on, selecting, etc.) interface affordance 408.

Returning to FIG. 3, at step 330, one or more of the systems described herein may provide, in response to receiving a request, a user with access to a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community by (1) identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service, and (2) presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system. For example, providing module 108 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide, in response to receiving request 218, user 210 with access to community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 by (1) identifying additional member 220 who is an additional participant in dating service 212, and (2) presenting additional member information 224 within dating interface 226.

Providing module 108 may perform the foregoing operations in a variety of contexts. For example, providing module 108 may identify additional member 220 by accessing and/or analyzing participant data 142 to identify one or more indicators that may indicate that additional member 220 is an additional participant in dating service 212. Participant data 142 as maintained by data store 140 may include information associated with participants in a dating service of a social networking system. Hence, participant data may include one or more indicators (e.g., a data field, a database record, a file, portions of one or more of the same, etc.) that may indicate that an additional member 220 is a participant in dating service 212 and/or that additional member 220 is a member of interest-based community 214. Providing module 108 may therefore identify additional member 220 by accessing participant data 142 and/or by analyzing participant data 142 to identify one or more such indicators that may be included in participant data 142.

In at least one example, providing module 108 may identify additional member 220 by obtaining, from user 210, data representative of at least one desired user attribute for new user connections (e.g., desired user attribute 246), and determining that additional member 220 shares the desired user attribute.

In some examples, a “user attribute” may be any quality or characteristic that may be associated with a user of a social networking system. In some examples, a user attribute may include, without limitation, a characteristic (e.g., physical, mental, intellectual, etc.), a trait, an aspect, a property, and/or a state. For example, desired user attribute 246 may include an indication that user 210 is located in a particular geographic area and/or wishes to connect with other users in the particular geographic area, an indication that user 210 is employed by a particular employer and/or wishes to connect with other users who are also employed by the particular employer, an indication that user 210 is a participant of a dating service of a social networking system and wishes to connect with other users who are also participants of the dating service, and so forth.

Providing module 108 may obtain desired user attribute 246 from user 210 in any suitable way. For example, user 210 may submit desired user attribute 246 via a dating interface of a social networking system (e.g., dating interface 226). Obtaining module 106 may then obtain desired user attribute 246 from the user interface via an internal messaging service of the social networking system that facilitates communication among various services, modules, and/or users of the social networking system. As noted above, in some examples, desired user attribute 246 may be included with (e.g., incorporated as part of, communicated to providing module 108 contemporaneously with, etc.) request 218.

Providing module 108 may determine that additional member 220 possesses desired user attribute 246 in a variety of contexts. For example, providing module 108 may determine that additional member 220 possesses the desired user attribute by accessing user attribute data 244 included in participant data 142 stored in data store 140. Providing module 108 may then determine that additional user 220 is a participant in the dating service of the social networking system and that additional user 220 possesses the desired user attribute based on user attribute data 244, and may identify additional user 220 based on that determination.

For example, user 210 may be geographically located in Palo Alto, Calif. Desired user attribute 246 may indicate that user 210 desires to connect with other users who are also located in Palo Alto, Calif. User attribute data 244 may indicate that additional member 220 is also geographically located in Palo Alto, Calif. Providing module 108 may access participant data 142, determine that additional member 220 possesses the desired user attribute of being geographically located in Palo Alto, Calif. based on user attribute data 244, and may identify additional member 220 based on that determination.

In some examples, providing module 108 may identify additional member 220 by determining that user 210 and additional member 220 have at least a threshold level of compatibility within a dating service. In some examples, a “level of compatibility” and/or “compatibility level” may include any metric that may indicate a degree to which two participants of a dating service may be romantically compatible with each other. A level of compatibility may be determined based on any suitable criteria including, without limitation, common attributes (e.g., income, socioeconomic status, religious views, etc.) of user 210 and additional member 220, previous dating experiences of user 210 and/or additional member 220, previous relationships of user 210 and/or additional member 220, and so forth.

For example, a threshold level of compatibility may be 10 compatibility points. User 210 and additional member 220 may both be participants of the dating service and may share a particular attribute that may correlate with romantic compatibility, such as a set of common religious views. Based on user 210 and additional member 220 sharing this common attribute, the dating service may assign user 210 and additional member 220 a compatibility level 248 of 10 compatibility points, and may store compatibility level 220 as part of participant data 142. In this example, providing module 108 may identify additional member 220 by accessing compatibility level 248 included in participant data 142, and determining that compatibility level 248, at 10 compatibility points, meets or exceeds the threshold level of compatibility of 10 compatibility points. Therefore, providing module 108 may identify additional member 220 by determining that user 210 and additional member 220 have at least the threshold level of compatibility within the dating service.

In some contexts, providing module 108 may identify the additional member (e.g., additional member 220) by determining that the additional member is excluded from a set of friends of the user (e.g., user 210) and/or that the user (e.g., user 210) is excluded from a set of friends of the additional member. In at least this way, the systems and methods described herein may limit providing module 108 to identifying (e.g., as potential connections) members of the interest-based community who are not already friends of user 210. Thus, the systems and methods described herein may identify additional member 220 when additional member 220 may not already be a friend of user 210 and/or user 210 may not already be a friend of additional member 220.

Furthermore, participant data 142 may include dating information 222 associated with participants in dating service 212, and may therefore include additional member information 224 that may include dating information associated with additional member 220. For example, dating information 222 may include, without limitation, a textual message from additional member 220 to other participants in the dating service, a listing of interests of additional member 220, a set of attributes of additional member 220 (e.g., physical attributes, geographic location, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religious views, etc.), a set of attributes that additional member 220 desires in potential dating connections, a media content item (e.g., video, audio, image, text, etc.) associated with and/or selected by additional member 220, and so forth.

Hence, providing module 108 may present additional member information 224 within dating interface 226 by accessing dating information 222, identifying at least a portion of dating information 222 that may be associated with additional member 220, designating the identified portion of dating information 222 that may be associated with additional member 220 as additional member information 224, transferring additional member information 224 to user device 202, and/or directing user device 202 to present additional member information 224 within dating interface 226.

In at least some embodiments, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., providing module 108) may provide one or more additional features of a dating service. For example, providing module 108 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208, cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide at least one entry point from a social networking interface into a dating interface of the social networking system. In some examples, an “entry point” into a dating interface may include any interface and/or interface element that may, when interacted with by a user of a social networking system, cause one or more systems described herein to provide the user with a dating interface (e.g., dating interface 226).

By way of illustration, FIGS. 5A-5B and FIG. 6 may include interface views that illustrate various examples of providing entry points from a social networking interface into a dating interface of a dating service of the social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein. As shown in FIG. 5A, interface view 500 may show an interface of a social networking system that includes an interface element 502. One or more systems described herein (e.g., receiving module 106, providing module 108, etc.) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to detect a user interaction with interface element 502. Upon detecting the user interaction, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., providing module 108) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide an interface for the discovery service. Furthermore, FIG. 5B may show an interface view 510 of a discovery service interface of a social networking system. As shown, FIG. 5B further includes a dating service entry point 512. When a user interacts with (e.g., touches, clicks, selects, etc.) dating service entry point 512, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., providing module 108) may detect the interaction and may, in response, provide the user with a dating interface (e.g., dating interface 226).

FIG. 6 shows an alternative interface view 600 that includes a dating service entry point 602 and a dating service entry point 604. When a user (e.g., user 210) interacts with (e.g., touches, clicks, selects, etc.) dating service entry point 602 or dating service entry point 604, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., providing module 108) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to provide, via user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208, a dating interface (e.g., dating interface 226).

FIG. 7 includes an interface view 700 that illustrates an example of presenting a home screen of a dating service of a social networking system within a dating interface of the social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein. Upon detecting a user interaction with one or more dating service entry points (e.g., dating service entry point 512, dating service entry point 602, and/or dating service entry point 604), one or more of modules 102 (e.g., providing module 108) may provide interface view 700 that includes various interface elements that may enable a user to interact with a dating service (e.g., dating service 226). For example, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may detect a user interaction with dating profile interface element 702, which may cause one or more of the systems described herein to provide a view of a dating profile of the user. As will be described in greater detail below, FIG. 7 also includes an image 704, an interested control 706, and a conversation control 708.

In some examples, a “dating profile” may include any suitable information that a participant in the dating service of the social network (e.g., user 210 and/or additional member 220) may wish to share with other participants in the dating service and/or may wish to keep private from users of the social networking system who are not participating in the dating service. For example, a dating profile for user 210 may include, without limitation, an image of user 210, a text description of user 210, a set of interests of user 210, a relationship status of user 210, a geographic location associated with user 210, a set of physical attributes of user 210, and so forth.

Additionally or alternatively, a dating profile for additional member 220 may include, without limitation, an image of additional member 220, a text description of additional member 220, a set of interests of additional member 220, a relationship status of additional member 220, a geographic location associated with additional member 220, a set of physical attributes of additional member 220, and so forth. In some examples, dating profiles of participants in the dating service may be included as a part of dating information 222 in participant data 142.

As described above, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may present dating information associated with an identified additional member of an interest-based community (e.g., additional member information 224 associated with additional member 220 of interest-based community 214) within a dating interface (e.g., dating interface 226) of a social networking system. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, image 704 may include dating information associated with an additional member of an interest-based community who is also a participant in a dating service of the social networking system and/or who has also requested and been provided access to the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community.

A user may interact with (e.g., tap on, click on, select, etc.) image 704. One or more of modules 102 (e.g., receiving module 106, providing module 108, etc.) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to receive a selection (e.g., selection 250) of the additional member (e.g., a selection of additional member “Douglas” indicated by image 704). One or more of modules 102 (e.g., receiving module 106, providing module 108, etc.) may cause user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 to present at least one set of information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community. In some examples, the set of information may include a dating profile of the additional member of the interest-based community.

FIGS. 8A-8C include interface views that illustrate examples of presenting, within a dating interface of a social networking system, dating information associated with a participant in a dating service of a social networking system who is also a member of an interest-based community. As shown in these figures, a user (e.g., user 210) may have selected (e.g., tapped on an image presented within a dating interface of) an additional member named Saleem. Interface view 800 shown in FIG. 8A, interface view 810 shown in FIG. 8B, and interface view 820 shown in FIG. 8C illustrate examples of information associated with the dating service (e.g., dating service 212) and additional member Saleem that one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may present to the user in response to receiving the user's selection of additional member Saleem, such as portions of Saleem's dating profile.

FIG. 8C further includes a pass control 822 and an interest control 824. A user viewing the dating profile shown in FIGS. 8A-8C may select one of these controls to indicate whether they are interested in the participant shown in the dating profile. For example, if the user is not interested in making a dating connection with Saleem, the user may select pass control 822, which may cause one or more of the systems described herein to no longer present Saleem and/or Saleem's dating profile to the user. Conversely, if the user is interested in making a dating connection with Saleem, the user may select interest control 824, which may cause one or more of the systems described herein to present a conversation starter interface to the user.

FIGS. 9-10 include interface views that illustrate examples of presenting, within a dating interface, a conversation starter interface that may enable a user to start a conversation with an additional member of the interest-based community. FIG. 9 includes interface view 900 that may enable a user to select one or more conversation starter elements. In some examples, a “conversation starter element” may include any data associated with a participant in a social networking system that may be selected by other users of the social networking system to initiate a conversation with the user within a conversation starter interface. Conversation starter elements may include, without limitation, images, text, a set of interests, geographic locations, and so forth. In some examples, conversation starter elements may be included in and/or selected from a dating profile of a user. A user may select one or more conversation starter elements and may write a conversation starter message to the additional member. FIG. 10 includes an interface view 1000 that shows a user entering a message to an additional member regarding a conversation starter element. In some examples, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may prevent inclusion of a restricted audiovisual element, such as an image, an audio file, a harassing text message, etc., within the conversation starter message. Hence, in some examples, the conversation starter message may be limited to text and/or the conversation starter element. This may prevent users from engaging in harassing behavior.

One or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may receive the selection and the message, and may send the conversation starter message, that may include the selected conversation starter element, to the additional member of the interest-based community. In some embodiments, one or more of the systems described herein may determine whether the additional member has sent a response to the conversation starter message to the user. If the additional member has sent a response, the response may be provided to the user within the dating interface (e.g., whiting a messaging interface of the dating interface). If the additional member has not sent a response, one or more of the systems described herein (e.g., one or more of modules 102) may prevent the user from sending an additional message to the additional member. This may further prevent users from engaging in harassing behavior.

Returning to FIG. 7, a user may select interested control 706 to access an interface view that may show dating information associated with other participants in the dating service who have indicated an interest in the user. FIG. 11 includes an interface view 1100 that illustrates providing, within a dating interface of a social networking system, a set of participants in the dating service who have indicated an interest in a participant. As shown in FIG. 11, a participant “Danny” has indicated an interest in a user and has sent the user a conversation starter message 1102. The user may choose to respond to the message, ignore it, and/or to have it removed from the dating interface. If the user chooses to respond to the message, one or more of the systems described herein may provide a messaging interface of the dating service that may enable the user to respond to the conversation starter message and/or continue a conversation with other users who have indicated an interest in the user.

FIGS. 12A-12C may include interface views that illustrate a messaging interface of a dating service of a social networking system in accordance with some embodiments described herein. A user may be presented with interface view 1200 upon choosing to respond to a conversation starter message. Additionally or alternatively, a user may be presented with interface view 1200 upon selecting conversation control 708 shown in FIG. 7. As shown, interface view 1200 shows conversation 1202, which represents a conversation that the user is conducting with another participant named Roy. FIG. 12B includes interface view 1210, which may illustrate a messaging interface that shows an ongoing conversation between the user and Roy. FIG. 12C includes interface view 1220, which illustrates a user responding to a message from Roy by entering a message in text box 1222. The messaging interface may enable participants in the dating service to carry on conversations with each other separately from other messaging interfaces that may be provided by the social networking system.

In additional embodiments, one or more of the systems described herein may perform one or more operations to enable an administrator to activate a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community. For example, activation management module 110 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, provide administrator 232 with dating feature control 236 that may enable administrator 232 to provide an instruction to activate community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214. Additionally, activation management module 110 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, receive, via dating feature control 236, activation instruction 238 that may direct one or more of the systems described herein to activate community-based dating feature 216. Furthermore, activation management module 110 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208, in FIG. 2, activate community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 in response to receiving activation instruction 238.

For example, interest-based community 214 may be associated with a wedding, and user 210 and additional member 220 may be guests at the wedding, relatives of the marriage participants, and so forth. Likewise, administrator 232 may be a planner of the wedding. Administrator 232 may wish to activate community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 in order for guests at the wedding to see which other guests are interested in forming dating connections with other members of interest-based community 214. Hence, activation management module 110 may provide administrator 232 with dating feature control 236, and administrator 232 may interact with dating feature control 236 to indicate that he or she wishes to activate community-based dating feature 216. Activation management module 110 may receive, via dating feature control 236, activation instruction 238, which may direct activation management module 110 to activate community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214. Activation management module 110 may then activate the community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 in response to receiving activation instruction 238.

Additionally, in some embodiments, activation management module 110 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, provide administrator 232 with duration control 240 that may enable the administrator to provide duration 242 for community-based dating feature 216 to remain activated. Furthermore, activation management module 110 may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, receives duration 242 via duration control 240 and, upon expiration of duration 240, may further, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, inactivate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., determining module 104, receiving module 106, providing module 108, and/or activation management module 110) may, as part of user device 202, server 206, and/or administrator device 208 in FIG. 2, inactivate community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 upon expiration of a predetermined duration of time (e.g., 10 minutes, 10 hours, 10 days, etc.) following an activation of community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214.

Continuing with the previous example, activation management module 110 may provide administrator 232 with duration control 240 and may receive duration 242 of 1 week via duration control 240, thereby establishing a temporal window of 1 week following the wedding for members of interest-based community 214 to utilize community-based dating feature 216 to make dating connections with each other.

At the wedding, user 210 and additional member 220 may meet each other and may establish a rapport but may forget to exchange contact information. Two days following the wedding, receiving module 106 may receive a request from additional member 220 for access to community-based dating feature 216 (e.g., a request to “unlock” community-based dating feature 216), and providing module 108 may provide additional member 220 with access to community-based dating feature 216 in any of the ways described herein in relation to providing user 210 with access to community-based dating feature 216. Three days following the wedding, receiving module 106 may receive a request from user 210 for access to community-based dating feature 216 (e.g., a request to “unlock” community-based dating feature 216). Providing module 108 may provide user 210 with access to community-based dating feature 216 by identifying additional member 220 (i.e., based on providing module 108 providing additional member 220 with access to community-based dating feature 216), and may present dating information associated with additional member 220 (e.g., a dating profile of additional member 220) within dating interface 226. This may be an example of community-based dating feature 216 operating as a “missed connections” feature that may enable members of interest-based community 214 to make dating connections with other members who they may meet and/or interact with at an event associated with interest-based community 214.

However, one week following the wedding, activation management module 110 may inactivate community-based dating feature 216. Eight days following the wedding, user 210 may provide an additional request to access community-based dating feature 216. As activation management module 110 may have inactivated community-based dating feature 216, determining module 104 may determine that community-based dating feature 216 is no longer activated, receiving module 106 may decline to receive the additional request, and/or providing module 108 may not provide user 210 with access to community-based dating feature 216. For example, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., determining module 104, receiving module 106, etc.) may provide, via dating interface 226, an error message indicating that community-based dating feature 216 of interest-based community 214 is no longer available to user 210.

In other examples, one or more systems described herein may inactivate a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community upon expiration of a predetermined duration of time following an activation of the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community. The predetermined duration of time may be any suitable duration of time (e.g., a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a year, etc.), and may be determined by any suitable person, machine, system, and so forth. For example, upon activating a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community, an administrator of dating service 212 may determine that a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community may only remain activated for 1 week and may provide an instruction to one or more of modules 102 to deactivate the community-based dating feature at the expiration of 1 week. Upon expiration of that period of time, one or more of modules 102 (e.g., determining module 104, receiving module 106, providing module 108, etc.) may inactivate the community-based dating feature.

As discussed throughout the instant disclosure, the disclosed systems and methods may provide one or more advantages over traditional options for making dating connections between users of a social networking system. For example, enabling a user of a social networking system to unlock dating features associated with various interest-based communities (e.g., groups, events, etc.) of which they are already members, the systems and methods described herein may facilitate dating connections between members of interest-based communities of a social networking system (e.g., groups, events, pages, etc.) who already share an interest in a subject associated with the interest-based community, such as a past, present, or future event, a topic of discussion, a subject, and so forth. As members of these interest-based communities may already share at least one common interest (e.g., an interest in a subject associated with the interest-based community), embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may enable members of interest-based communities who are interested in forming dating connections with other members of those communities to make stronger, longer-lasting, more enjoyable, and/or more fulfilling dating connections than may be possible through conventional dating services and/or traditional social networking systems.

Furthermore, the systems and methods described herein may provide various administrative tools that may enable administrators of interest-based communities to activate, inactivate, enable, disable, lock, unlock, and/or otherwise administer a community-based dating feature of an interest-based community. Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide various features of a community-based dating service that may effectively facilitate formation of dating connections between community members. For example, an embodiment may limit dating-focused interactions between group members to “conversation-starter” messages and/or text-only messages. Additional embodiments may prevent members from sending repeated messages to disinterested members. These and other features provided by the systems and methods described herein may enable users to manage a degree, depth, and/or quality of their dating-focused interactions with other members, and/or an overall level of participation in the community-based dating feature.

As detailed above, the computing devices and systems described and/or illustrated herein broadly represent any type or form of computing device or system capable of executing computer-readable instructions, such as those contained within the modules described herein. In their most basic configuration, these computing device(s) may each include at least one memory device and at least one physical processor.

Although illustrated as separate elements, the modules described and/or illustrated herein may represent portions of a single module or application. In addition, in certain embodiments one or more of these modules may represent one or more software applications or programs that, when executed by a computing device, may cause the computing device to perform one or more tasks. For example, one or more of the modules described and/or illustrated herein may represent modules stored and configured to run on one or more of the computing devices or systems described and/or illustrated herein. One or more of these modules may also represent all or portions of one or more special-purpose computers configured to perform one or more tasks.

In addition, one or more of the modules described herein may transform data, physical devices, and/or representations of physical devices from one form to another. For example, one or more of the modules recited herein may receive participant data (e.g., one or more elements included in participant data 142, such as dating information 222) to be transformed, transform the participant data, output a result of the transformation to present the transformed participant data to a user (e.g., user 210), use the result of the transformation to identify one or more additional users of the social networking system (e.g., additional member 220), and store the result of the transformation to later present the transformed participant data to one or more additional users (e.g., additional member 220). Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the modules recited herein may transform a processor, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and/or any other portion of a physical computing device from one form to another by executing on the computing device, storing data on the computing device, and/or otherwise interacting with the computing device.

The term “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, generally refers to any form of device, carrier, or medium capable of storing or carrying computer-readable instructions. Examples of computer-readable media include, without limitation, transmission-type media, such as carrier waves, and non-transitory-type media, such as magnetic-storage media (e.g., hard disk drives, tape drives, and floppy disks), optical-storage media (e.g., Compact Disks (CDs), Digital Video Disks (DVDs), and BLU-RAY disks), electronic-storage media (e.g., solid-state drives and flash media), and other distribution systems.

The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed.

The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure.

Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising: determining that a user of a social networking system is both: a participant in a dating service of the social networking system; and a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community; receiving a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and providing, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by: identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service; and presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the interest-based community comprises at least one of: a set of users of the social networking system who have each indicated an interest in an event; or a set of users of the social networking system who have each indicated an interest in a subject.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: the method further comprises presenting, within the dating interface, a representation of the interest-based community that comprises an interface affordance that indicates at least one of: whether the community-based dating feature is activated for the interest-based community; or whether the user has been provided with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and receiving the request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community comprises receiving the request via a user interaction with the interface affordance.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: providing an administrator of the interest-based community with a dating feature control that enables the administrator to provide an instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; receiving, via the dating feature control, the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and activating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community in response to receiving the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising: providing the administrator with a duration control that enables the administrator to provide a duration of time for the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community to remain activated; receiving the duration of time via the duration control; and upon expiration of the duration of time, inactivating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising inactivating the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community upon expiration of a predetermined duration of time following an activation of the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.
 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein: the method further comprises: receiving a request from the additional member for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and providing, in response to receiving the request from the additional member for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community, the additional member with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and identifying the additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service is based on providing the additional member with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the additional member of the interest-based community comprises: obtaining, from the user, data representative of at least one desired user attribute for new user connections; and determining that the additional member of the interest-based community shares the desired user attribute.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein identifying the additional member of the interest-based community further comprises determining that the user and the additional member of the interest-based community have at least a threshold level of compatibility within the dating service.
 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a selection of the additional member of the interest-based community from the user; and presenting at least one set of information associated with the dating service and the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the set of information comprises a dating profile of the additional member of the interest-based community.
 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein: the dating profile comprises a set of conversation starter elements; and the method further comprises: presenting, within the dating interface, a conversation interface that enables the user to start a conversation with the additional member of the interest-based community regarding at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements; receiving, via the conversation interface: a selection of at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements; and a conversation starter message from the user to the additional member of the interest-based community regarding the conversation starter element; and sending the conversation starter message to the additional member of the interest-based community.
 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein receiving the conversation starter message from the user comprises: receiving, via the conversation interface, at least one textual element for inclusion in the conversation starter message; and preventing inclusion of at least one restricted audiovisual element in the conversation starter message.
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising: determining whether the additional member of the interest-based community has sent a response to the conversation starter message to the user; upon determining that the additional member of the interest-based community has sent the response to the user, providing the response to the user within the dating interface; and upon determining that the additional member of the interest-based community has not sent the response, preventing the user from sending an additional message to the additional member of the interest-based community.
 15. A system comprising: a determining module, stored in memory, that determines that a user of a social networking system is both: a participant in a dating service of the social networking system; and a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community; a receiving module, stored in memory, that receives a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; a providing module, stored in memory, that provides, in response to the receiving module receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by: identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service; and presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system; and at least one physical processor that executes the determining module, the receiving module, and the providing module.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the system further comprises an activation management module, stored in memory, that: provides an administrator of the interest-based community with a dating feature control that enables the administrator to provide an instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; receives, via the dating feature control, the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and activates the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community in response to receiving the instruction to activate the community-based dating feature associated with the interest-based community; and the physical processor further executes the activation management module.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the activation management module further: provides the administrator with a duration control that enables the administrator to provide a duration of time for the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community to remain activated; receives the duration of time via the duration control; and upon expiration of the duration of time, further inactivates the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein: the receiving module further receives a selection of the additional member of the interest-based community from the user; and the providing module further provides the user with access to the community-based dating feature by presenting a dating profile of the additional member of the interest-based community to the user in response to the receiving module receiving the selection of the additional member of the interest-based community.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein: the dating profile comprises a set of conversation starter elements; and the providing module further provides the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by presenting, within the dating interface, a conversation interface that enables the user to start a conversation with the additional member of the interest-based community regarding at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements; the receiving module further: receives, via the conversation interface: a selection of at least one conversation starter element included in the set of conversation starter elements; and a conversation starter message from the user to the additional member of the interest-based community regarding the conversation starter element; and sends the conversation starter message to the additional member of the interest-based community.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to: determine that a user of a social networking system is both: a participant in a dating service of the social networking system; and a member of an interest-based community of the social networking system that includes an activated community-based dating feature that facilitates dating connections between members of the interest-based community; receive a request from the user for access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community; and provide, in response to receiving the request, the user with access to the community-based dating feature of the interest-based community by: identifying at least one additional member of the interest-based community who is an additional participant in the dating service; and presenting dating information associated with the additional member of the interest-based community within a dating interface of the social networking system. 